Shear blade



Jan. 31, W39. '5 SCHERMERHORN SHEAR BLADE Filed April 19, 1937 k N R, N U 521116;

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNI T's-o STAT E 4 Claims.

My invention relates 'to shear blades intended for" use in power shears employed in cutting iron or-steel sheetsor-ba-rs providedwith fiat bottom surfaces and with angular upper surfaces; the

shearing or cuttingthe base'of'a railroad rail;

the invention having for its object the provision of a pair of blades adapted to give a more satis-.

factory and cleaner cut and which will also have the present day type of. blade in use.

The-construction of theblades and their objects and advantages will be readily compree hended from the detailed description ofthe. ac-,

companying-drawihg, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the top or movable head of power shears provided with my improved blade, illustrating a railroad rail on the lower or non-movable head and the upper head lowered in rail base cutting position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the upper or movable head and my improved blade.

Figure 3 is a similar view of the upper end of the lower or stationary head with my improved lower blade.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one end of the top blade.

My improved blades as disclosed in the drawing for purposes of exemplification are especially intended for shearing or cutting the base II] of a railroad rail which is supported and held in position by the lower or non-movable head I I of a well known type of power shears; and as the invention pertains entirely to the blades, whether used in connection with vertically or horizontally disposed and moving heads, illustration of the power shears beyond the immediate blade holding portions of the heads is not deemed necessary.

The non-movable head II at the top and at one side is recessed transversely to receive the lower blade I2, whose lower edge or side rests on the bottom or shoulder I3 of the recess as shown in Figure 1; the blade being securely held in place by means of bolts I4, I 4 which extend through the blade I2 and through the head II; the orifices of the aperture in the blade I2 being flared as shown in Figure 1 to permit the heads of the bolts I4 to be countersunk so as to present a plain surface on the outer side or face of the blade in order not to interfere with the blade I5 carried by the upper or movable head I6.

The upper flat surface of the bottom or stationary blade I2 is preferably disposed at right angles to the direction of travel of the movable 'alonger life of usefulness than is the case with:

(01; 1c4-.-5s), I

head lfi while the -other or lower-- surface of the blade I2 is shown preferably beveledat a prearrangedu angle for about yseventyefive per: cent of its lower or: cutting:..surface as shown at I! in Figure 1*; the purpose of this construction being. later described;

The upper: or. movable; head": I6; of the. power shears. at 'itslloweri'facer and Ion: .the sidedisposed towardztheslower head; Ill :during; shearing opera:- tion is recessed at I8 to receive the-upper; blade I5; the depth of the recess I8: beingwsuch that blades; I53 beecom-pletelyi located within; the recess; tolpermitsit: .to-ltravel-ladjacent to and: in. shearing arelation with the: side: of ithe. lower blade. I 2; and; stationary head I 1; topand bottom surfaces ofthe blade ll'r for about seventy-five per; cent tof-Cth-eir widths; are beveled A as shown at I9, I9 to the same degree which in the specific exemplification approximates the angle of slope of the top surface of the base II) of the rail. The blade I5 is secured to the top head I6 by suitable bolts 20, whose heads are countersunk in the flared orifices of the bolt receiving holes in the blade; the bolts extend entirely through the heads and are secured in place by nuts as at 2I.

In operation the base III of the rail-or other metal bar to be cutis positioned on the lower head II and the lower blade I2 so as to overhang the outer edge of the lower blade I2 to an extent approximating the width of metal to be removed; the base, therefore, being disposed in the path of the upper blade I5,

As shown in Figure 2, the lower end of the upper head I6 and the recess I8 therein are arranged at an inclination so that the upper blade I5 will also be at an inclination and its cutting edge successively brought into contact with the base I 0 of the rail; the heads being of more or less width in order to permit use of blades of predetermined length whereby a shearing relation may be obtained.

The lower blade I2 is intended to be substantially in horizontal position as shown in Figure 3 or at right angles to the direction of travel of the movable head I6.

Beveling both longitudinal surfaces of the top blade, namely with the bevels on the two surfaces sloping from opposite side faces of the blade, it is apparent that the blade is provided" with two cutting edges which permits the blade I5 to be reversed when one edge becomes dull; and by merely beveling the two surfaces for about seventy-five per cent of the entire width, proper backing or bearing surfaces are provided at 22.

Both-i, longitudinal.

Then too, by beveling the lower edge of the lower or non-moving blade l2 in a manner similar to that of the upper blade, the lower blade, in the event of dullness of both shearing edges or surfaces of upper blade l5, or said surfaces become inefiective, the lower blade l2 may be substituted for the dull or defective upper blade. The bolts M for the lower blade preferably are provided with large washers as at 23.

The straight upper cutting edge of the lower blade is adapted for all cutting purposes, particularly where the lower side or surface of the bar or rail to be cut is plain.

My improved shear blades are designed to give a more satisfactory cut to the base of a railroad track rail, because a cleaner cut of the base of the rail or of the material is produced and a much longer life for the blade is provided lthan with' blades of the type at present in use which have a cutting face or edge at right angles to the vertical or horizontal travel of the movable head of power shears.

While my improved type of blade as exemplified in the drawing, is primarily designed for cutting railroad track rails, it is apparent that the blades are equally applicable for cutting iron or steel bars or elements having flat bottom surfaces and angular top surfaces and,= therefore, it will be understood that I do not limit the use of the blades to track rail cutting. I

What I claim is: 1. A blade of the character described composed of a metal bar of predetermined length, width and thickness, the cutting edge whereof is beveled approximately three-quarters of its width, and means whereby the blade may be secured to the movable head of the power shears.

I the length and depth of said recess, the two longitudinal edges of the bar being beveled approximately'three-quarters of the width of said edges, the bevels being disposed in opposite directions to provide a reversible blade, the degree of the bevel approximating the slope of the rail-base,

and means whereby the blade may be removably secured in said recess so as to successively approach the rail-base to be sheared. I

4. A reversible rail shearing blade of the character described composed of a metal bar of predetermined length, width and substantial thickness adapted to be secured to the movable head of power shears, the longitudinal edges whereof are beveled throughout a major portion of the edges in approximation to the slope of the contacting surface of the metal element to be sheared, said major portion being adapted to contact the element during cutting operation, while the remaining portion of each longitudinal edge issubstantially at right angles to the adjacent side to provide a bearing surface.

ED SCHERMERHORN. 

